The famous director started his career in the cinema as a critic, his original reviews of pictures were gladly printed by popular publications. However, Wim Wenders’ films became real masterpieces, winning an army of fans all over the world.
Der Himmel über Berlin
- Rating IMDB – 8.0
- Genre: Fantasy, drama, melodrama
- Production Germany (FRG), France / 1987
- Worldwide gross: $3,212,686
- Directed by Wim Wenders
- Cast: Bruno Ganz, Solveig Dommartin, Otto Sander, Kurt Bois, Peter Falk, Hans Martin Stier, Elmar Wilms, Sigurd Rahman, Beatrice Manowski, Lajos Kovacs
The angels Cassiel and Damiel hover over the city, following the people and remaining invisible for centuries. They are able to read the thoughts of their wards, but have no right to interfere in the natural course of events. Angels are immortal, although eternal existence has its own sadness.
Celestials are alien to earthly passions and pleasures, but one day Damiel notices the aerial gymnast Marion. The angel falls in love with the girl at first sight and is ready to part with his wings forever, having undergone a painful transformation.
The black and white scenes were shot through a special filter that the cameraman constructed from women’s stockings.
Submergence
- Rating IMDB – 8.0
- Genre: Fantasy, drama, melodrama
- Production Germany (FRG), France / 1987
- Worldwide gross: $3,212,686
- Directed by Wim Wenders
- Cast: Bruno Ganz, Solveig Dommartin, Otto Sander, Kurt Bois, Peter Falk, Hans Martin Stier, Elmar Wilms, Sigurd Rahman, Beatrice Manowski, Lajos Kovacs
James and Danielle met by chance on the coast of France, where they spent the best days of their lives. During the resort romance the girl enthusiastically talked about the profession of an oceanologist, and the guy never dared to reveal the truth about himself.
James is a secret agent in the service of the British government, so every day could be his last. The lovers are separated by tragic events, and soon after the separation James is captured, not suspecting that Danielle is also in danger.
Filming took place in Africa, Spain, Germany, France and the Faroe Islands.
Alice in den Städten
- Rating IMDB – 7.9
- Genre: Drama
- Production Germany (FRG) / 1973
- Budget: DEM 500,000
- Worldwide gross: $45,637
- Directed by Wim Wenders
- Cast: Rüdiger Vogler, Jella Rottlander, Lisa Kreutzer, Edda Koechl, Ernest Boehm, Sam Presti, Louis Moran, Didi Petricat, Hans Hirschmüller, Sybille Baier
Critics have called the director’s road-movie drama one of Wim Wenders’ best films. The German journalist Philip Winter travels along the coast of the United States in search of material for his reportage, but the work only brings boredom.
A striking event occurs on the way home when a stranger at the airport asks a man to look after her daughter for a while. The flight is delayed, and during the wait, the woman runs off, leaving little Alice with the journalist. Philip is left with no choice but to go with the girl in search of her possible relatives.
The young actress Yella Rottländer starred in three more Wenders films before ending her career in 1993.
Paris, Texas
- Rating IMDB – 8.0
- Genre: Drama
- Production Germany (FRG), France, Great Britain, USA / 1984
- Budget: £1,162,000
- US fees: $2,181,987
- Directed by Wim Wenders
- Cast: Harry Dean Stanton, Nastassja Kinski, Sam Berry, Bernhard Wikki, Dean Stockwell, Aurora Clément, Claressy Mobley, Hunter Carson, Viva, Socorro Valdez
In the desert near the Mexican border, a man wanders and remembers nothing of himself. The wanderer is referred to a local hospital, where the doctor diagnoses partial amnesia. The doctor manages to contact the man’s brother through a number on a business card found in the John Doe’s pocket.
It turns out that the stranger’s name is Travis, but he can’t explain where he has spent the 4 years since his sudden disappearance. He has a son who was raised by his brother and his wife, and the reunited relatives have a difficult road ahead of them.
Kurt Cobain called the picture his favorite movie.
Al di là delle nuvole
- Rating IMDB – 6.4
- Genre: Drama, melodrama
- Production France, Germany, Italy / 1995
- US fees: $31,738
- Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni, Wim Wenders
- Cast: John Malkovich, Sophie Marceau, Vincent Perez, Jean Reno, Marcello Mastroianni, Jeanne Moreau, Peter Weller, Fanny Ardant, Irene Jacob, Chiara Caselli
The film consists of four novellas that reveal the mysterious and inexplicable theme of the female soul. Despite the sincerity and strength of their feelings, beautiful ladies are sometimes afraid to touch the object of their adoration. Fear of losing a loved one is closely intertwined with jealousy, which can poison the life of the couple. Happiness can come and go – and much in the relationship depends on the woman. Women experience fireworks of emotions, but they are afraid to burn in the flames of passion.
The picture was the last work of director Michelangelo Antonioni, and the connections between the short stories belong to Wenders.
Falsche Bewegung
- Rating IMDB – 6.9
- Genre: Drama
- Production Germany (FRG) / 1975
- Budget: DEM 620 000
- Directed by Wim Wenders
- Cast: Rüdiger Vogler, Hans Christian Blech, Hanna Schigulla, Nastassja Kinski, Peter Kern, Ivan Desny, Marianne Hoppe, Lisa Kreuzer, Adolf Hansen, Wim Wenders
This life-affirming drama set in the post-war years continues the list of Wim Wenders films. A budding writer, Wilhelm Meister, travels around the country, hoping to discover new facets of his talent and find inspiration.
The country after World War II strikes the man as fragmented and the people as unsettled. It is difficult for every man to find his place in this world, so a depressing loneliness becomes the symbol of a generation.
The film is based on Goethe’s novel and is the second part of the director’s trilogy.
Der amerikanische Freund
- Rating IMDB – 7.4
- Genre: Thriller, drama, crime, detective
- Production Germany (FRG), France / 1977
- Budget: DEM 3 000 000
- Directed by Wim Wenders
- Cast: Dennis Hopper, Bruno Ganz, Lisa Kreuzer, Gerard Blain, Nicholas Ray, Samuel Fuller, Peter Lilienthal, Daniel Schmid, Sandy Whitelaw, Jean Eustache
Jonathan Zimmerman, the owner of a picture framing studio, accidentally meets con man Tom Ripley, who trades in stolen works of art. The adventurer suggests that the framer become a hired assassin in order to provide the family with finances for years to come.
Jonathan is sick with leukemia, so the high-paying job attracts the possibility of a quick fortune. The victim is a violent gangster, but Zimmerman is not so easy to bargain with his own conscience.
Wim Wenders partially borrowed the idea for the plot from Alfred Hitchcock.
Im Lauf der Zeit
- Rating IMDB – 7.7
- Genre: Drama
- Production Germany (FRG) / 1976
- Budget: DEM 680 000
- Directed by Wim Wenders
- Cast: Rüdiger Vogler, Hanns Zieschler, Lisa Kreuzer, Rudolf Schündler, Marquard Bohm, Hans Dieter Treyer, Franziska Stömmer, Patrick Kreuzer, Peter Kaiser, Wim Wenders
Film mechanic Bruno Winter is a devoted film buff, trying to introduce the art to as many people as possible. He travels around the country in an old van, showing black and white films to all comers. Interest in cinemas has decreased since the appearance of television, because now the pictures can be watched at home in the maximum comfort.
On the trip, Bruno meets a like-minded man, although Robert is not so categorical. Any innovation moves progress forward, but not everyone is ready to accept the obvious truth.
Only the opening scene of the film was shot according to the script – the rest was improvised by the actors.
The Salt of the Earth
- Rating IMDB – 8.4
- Genre: Documentary, biography, history
- Production France, Brazil, Italy / 2014
- Worldwide gross: $5,412,189
- Directed by Giuliano Ribeiro Salgado, Wim Wenders
- Cast: Sebastian Salgado, Wim Wenders, Leyla Vanik Salgado, Giuliano Ribeiro Salgado, Hugo Barbier, Jacques Barthélemy, João Pessoa Mattos, Leni Vanik Mattos, Maria Teresa Salgado Rocha Bastos
Wim Wenders’ documentary focuses on the famous photographer Sebastiano Saldago, who relays other people’s pain in his images. The black-and-white shots put together a puzzle of the second half of the twentieth century – the immense grief that squeezes people’s hearts.
The establishment and overthrow of dictatorial rulers, genocide and war, scorching deserts and permafrost. A true story of unbelievable greed, mutual extermination and monstrous crimes against nature.
The title of the painting is a reference to the Gospel of Matthew.
Buena Vista Social Club
- Rating IMDB – 7.6
- Genre: Documentary, music
- Production Germany, USA, UK, France, Cuba / 1998
- Worldwide gross: $23,002,182
- Directed by Wim Wenders
- Cast: Octavio Calderon, Joaquim Couder, Ry Cooder, Angel Terry Domech, Ibrahim Ferrer, Ibrahim Ferrer Jr., Manuel Galban, Hugo Garzon, Carlos Gonzalez, Juan De Marcos Gonzalez
Another documentary is a gift for the fans of the legendary Buena Vista band, including the director himself. Wim Wenders collaborated with Ray Kudera for many years, so he asked the musician to accompany him on a trip to Cuba. The purpose of the trip is to gather the performers for the recording of the album.
The director shows the lives of Cuban musicians, their songs, the amazing country and culture. Wenders managed to show the warmth and openness of the talents, who at the time of filming were at a venerable age.
In 2000, the film was nominated for an Oscar.
